Cross-Sectional Associations of Total Daily Volume and Activity Patterns across the Activity Spectrum with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents.

Simone J J M Verswijveren,Robin M Daly,Nicola D Ridgers,Anna Timperio,Kelly A Mackintosh,Jo Salmon,Melitta A Mcnarry,Ester Cerin,Lisa S Olive,Karen E Lamb,Clare Hume,Rohan M Telford

doi:10.3390/ijerph17124286

Abstract

Sedentary and physical activity patterns (bouts/breaks) may be important for cardiometabolic health in early life. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional associations of total daily volume and patterns across the activity spectrum with cardiometabolic risk factors in youth aged 7–13 years. Objectively measured accelerometer and cardiometabolic risk factor data were pooled from two studies (n = 1219; 69% valid accelerometry). Total daily volume of sedentary time and light-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity physical activity was determined. Time in sustained bouts and median bout lengths of all intensities and breaks in sedentary time were also calculated. Outcomes included body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, and a cardiometabolic summary score. Regression models revealed beneficial associations between total daily volumes of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity and cardiometabolic risk. Time spent in ≥1 min vigorous-intensity physical activity bouts was beneficially associated with cardiometabolic risk, yet this disappeared after adjusting for total vigorous-intensity physical activity and confounders. Time accumulated in light- (≥1 min; ≥5 min) and moderate-intensity (≥1 min) physical activity bouts was detrimentally associated with cardiometabolic risk. Total daily volume and activity patterns may have implications for cardiometabolic risk early in life. Sporadic physical activity may be more beneficial for health than sustained physical activity.

Highlights

Low physical activity (PA) and high sedentary (SED) behavior engagement are associated with precursors for poor cardiometabolic health in youth [1,2]
SED: sedentary; LPA: light-intensity physical activity; MPA: moderate-intensity physical activity; VPA: vigorous-intensity physical activity; zBMI: body mass index converted to the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards age- and sex-standardized z-values [20]; WC: waist circumference; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG: triglycerides; CMR-score: cardiometabolic risk score
Associations were observed between total daily volume in MPA and VPA and more favorable cardiometabolic risk profiles

Summary

Introduction

Low physical activity (PA) and high sedentary (SED) behavior engagement are associated with precursors for poor cardiometabolic health in youth [1,2]. Little research has examined whether the duration and frequency of bouts and breaks in PA and SED time (from here on “activity patterns”) are associated with health risk factors compared to total daily volumes [3]. Research has shown that activity patterns, including both SED and PA accumulation, such as prolonged ≥10 min PA bouts and breaks in sitting time, are important for cardiometabolic risk, including reduced adiposity and improved glucose metabolism [4]. Activity pattern research in youth has primarily examined adiposity indicators as a precursor for the development of cardiometabolic disease, ignoring potential associations with other cardiometabolic risk indicators, such as blood lipids and blood pressure [3]. This study aimed to examine associations of total daily volume and patterns across the activity spectrum with cardiometabolic risk factors in youth aged 7–13 years

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion